India put up a spirited efficiency earlier than going down fighting 2-3 to hosts Australia in the second women’s hockey Test to concede the three-match sequence right here on Saturday.
Tatum Stewart (twelfth, forty fifth minutes) scored a brace for Australia, whereas Pippa Morgan (thirty eighth) was the opposite objective getter for the hosts.
India’s targets have been scored by Sangita Kumari (thirteenth) and Gurjit Kaur (seventeenth).
World no.3 Australia, thus, take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match sequence. India, ranked eighth, had earlier misplaced 2-4 in the sequence opener on Thursday on the Mate Stadium.
The third and ultimate match of the sequence will likely be performed in Adelaide on Sunday.
India can even play Australia ‘A’ team in the course of the tour, which kick began their preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games later this yr.
Unlike the sequence opener, it was far a greater and spectacular show from the Indians. It was a extra cohesive effort from the Indians in all departments of the sport not like the primary sport the place they regarded out of kinds.
India got here out all weapons blazing after the opening match loss and pressed laborious on the Australian objective from the onset.
India did a lot of the attacking in the opening two quarters, ensuing in some shiny probabilities for the guests.
India earned their first penalty nook in the eighth minute however Gurjit’s fierce flick was saved by Australian captain and goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram.
But, it was Australia who took the lead in opposition to the run of play in the twelfth minute from a penalty nook via Stewart, who scored her first worldwide objective.
India responded instantly via a advantageous discipline objective. Salima Tete began the transfer from the midfield and handed the ball on to Sharmila Devi contained in the circle, whose cross was deflected in by Sangita for her second objective of the sequence.
India continued in the identical vein in the second quarter because the Hockeyroos hardly managed to get contained in the Indian circle.
India took the lead two minutes into the second quarter when Gurjit transformed the second of back-to-back penalty corners.
Lalremsiami then got here shut to scoring in the twenty second minute however her reverse hit attempt went simply broad.
A minute from half time, India secured one other set piece however failed to utilise it.
Trailing 1-2, Australia made up for his or her lacklustre efficiency in the primary half as they regarded extra coordinated and purposeful after the change of ends.
Australia attacked the Indian citadel in numbers in the third quarter and their efforts bore fruit as they scored two targets.
In the thirty eighth minute, India skipper Savita made a double save in entrance of the objective however could not forestall from conceding a penalty nook. Morgan scored from a advantageous variation.
Australia secured one other penalty nook 38 seconds from the tip of the third quarter, which resulted to a stroke after the goal-mouth ball struck Monika’s toes. Stewart made no mistake to rating her second of the day and hand the hosts 3-2 lead.
In search of the equaliser, India attacked in numbers in the fourth and ultimate quarter and had some wonderful probabilities, one in the type of a penalty nook additionally, however couldn’t discover the again of the online as Australia held on to the slender lead.
